America Online switching spyware vendors

AOL has taken the decision to switch the vendor it uses to protect its Internet access subscribers from spyware and other malicious threats. Many are hoping that this move will mean more comprehensive and effective scans for AOL users. Aluria Software LLC's are being replaced with software by Computer Associates International Inc.

AOL's anti-spyware tool will look for 28,000 programs, compared with only a few thousand before. The time to complete a full weekly scan has been cut in half and won't interfere with other computing tasks, he said. The new tool will also check the computer's memory every minute for rogue programs already running.